Combustion apparatus



June 3, 1941. DE UN 2,244,055

COMBUSTIQN APPARATUS Filed Feb.-l 9, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet-l INVENTOR. MART/N 5&7. //V

0 W6 aid/ ATTORNEY.

June 3, 1941. M. DE LIN COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5:

ATTORNEY.

June 3, 1941. M. DE LIN COMBUSTION APPARATUS I Filed Feb. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. /'/4/7'//\/ DEL //V ATTORNEY.

Patented June 3, 1941 COMBUSTION APPARATUS Martin De Lin, Holland, Mich.,- assignor to Holland Furnace Company, Holland, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,433

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' vertical extent.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to combustion apparatus, and more particularly to a novel form of heat exchanger which includes an expansion chamber within which combustion is produced, and a horizontally extending vertically elongated economizer through which the products of combustion travel in passing from the expansion chamber to an exhaust flue.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 134,- 983 filed April 5, 1937.

The primary advantage of a horizontally extending economizer is that it permits of 'more eflicient transfer of heat to the medium to be heated. This advantage is only partly-realized where the economizer itself is not uniformly heated throughout its vertical extent. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a horizontally extending economizei; which is so constructed and arranged that the products of combustion passing therethrough are distributed substantially uniformly throughout its vertical extent. Thus, the maximum efficiency .of heat transfer is obtained.

Broadly, this primary object of the invention is attained by proportioning the cross-sectional areas of the economizer and the exhaust flue with which it is associated so that the products of combustion cannot pass through the economizer Without being distributed throughout its Specifically, this result is accomplished in either of two ways. The smallest cross-sectional area of the economizer may be the same as the effective cross-sectional area of the exhaust flue. As an alternative, the econo- 'L In addition to the foregoing primary object,

the invention has as its objects: the provision of a novel form of heat exchanger made up of sectional compartments; the provision of novel means for securing the compartments together to form a unit; and the provision of novel means for supporting the heat exchanger to provide for expansion and contraction thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure -1 is a vertical sectional View of combustion apparatus embodying the present invention taken on substantially the line l-l of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken on substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on substantially the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes several major parts, namely, a supporting frame I0, a heat exchanger ll mounted upon the supporting frame In, an inner casing l2 enclosing the heat exchanger, an outer casing 13 enclosing the inner casing, circulating fan units [4, air filters 9, an oil burning unit l5, and an open topped primary combustion chamber l6 disposed within and spaced from the walls of heat exchanger II. The nozzle'of oil burning unit l5 discharges into the chamber H6. The heat exchanger H, the inner casing I2 and the outer casing l3 are constructed from standard sectional elements whereby the size thereof may be readily varied. Likewise, the filters 9 and fan units M are of a character whereby one or more may be used.

The products of combustion formed in the heat exchanger II are discharged through flue outlets I1 and i8 extending through inner casing I 2 and outer casing l3. Outer casing I3 is provided with a cold air inlet opening [9 adjacent the top thereof and immediately over the flue outlets I! and I8. As an alternative to the use of a single air inlet opening 19, the outer casing may be provided with a'plurality of smaller openings in its vertical walls as shown at Ma. Communication is provided between the interior of outer casing l3 and the interior of inner casing l2 through means of a pair of openings 2!! in the bottom wall of the inner casing l2 The inner casing i2 is provided with an outlet opening 2| in its top wall for the discharge of heated air.

Each of the 'fan units l4 is'operatively asso ciated with one of the openings 28 in the bottom of inner casing I2. They are of the axially intake and radial discharge typewhereby the cold air is drawn into the outer casing l3 through inlet opening 19 and 'then forced through inner casing IZan'd out of outlet opening 2!. Thus,

the air in the outer casing I3 is under a vacuum and the air in the inner casing I2 is under pressure. Consequently, there can be no loss of heat or combustion gases through outer casing [3.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fan units M are housed within a compartment defined by the bottom wall |2a of vertical casing l2, the

vertical frame members 8, the vertical walls 6.

and l, and the removable filter units 9. Outer casing I3 is provided with openings in its side walls affording access to the filter units 9. These openings are closed by removable panels. Five filter units are shown, the two on each side of the apparatus being inclined from the vertical to expose a larger surface area to the air traveling vertically downwardly from opening l9. The direction of travel through the apparatus of the air to be heated is shown by'the arrows in Figure 2. Thus, it will be seen that all of such air passes through the filters 9.

.In order to control the direction of flow of the air passing :from outer casing l3 into inner casing l2 throughopenings 20, there are associated with openings 20 adjustable vanes 38. These vanes distribute the air delivered to the inner casing 12 by the fans M in such manner that the air will contact the maximum area of heat exchanger ll in passing through the inner casing .l2.

The heat-exchanger H is of novel construction. It includes an expansion chamberd la surrounding the primary combustion chamber 16 and "an economizer chamber llb adjacent the exhaust fiues l7 and H3. The entire heat exchanger H is made up of a plurality of sectional compartments .3! and 32 detachably connected to each other. The several sectional compartments 3l form the expansion chamber Ma and the compartments 32 form the .economizer chamber 1 lb.

All of the compartments 3| and 32 are of generally elliptical shape in horizontal cross-section, and of substantially rectangular shape in vertical cross-section. They are all formed to provide oppositely disposed side walls of substantially greater extent than the other walls thereof.

All of the compartments 3! communicate with each other through aligned restricted openings 33 formed in the sides thereof. These openings are of such size and such character that substantial portions of the opposite side walls of each compartmenttl are directly exposed to the air which is circulated vertically through 'the inner casing [2 by the fans l4. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the openings 33 in compartments 31 provide a straight horizontal passageway for the products of combustion which is of substantially uniform height and width, the height being materially greater than the Width.

Communication is provided for between the expansion chamber H a and the economizer chamber llb by cooperating vertically elongated openings 34 formed in the side wall of adjacent compartments 3! and 32. Communicationis provided between the compartments 32 by cooperating "vertically "elongated openings '35 formed in I 'the-adia'cent side walls thereof. Openings 34 and 3.5 are :of the same height but of a lesser width than openings 33. The openings 34 and '35 are arranged to :form a serpentine horizontally extending vertically elongated passageway through the economizer l l 17.

Communication is provided between the Economizer chamber Hi2 and the flue outlets I! and 18 by a pair of restricted openings :36 and 31in the adjacent side wall of the last compartaccepts ment 32. Flue outlets l1 and l8 are shown as connected to a common exhaust or chimney flue 48 of uniform cross-sectional area.

Provision is made to insure that the compartments 32 forming the economizer section llb will be more or less uniformly heated throughout their vertical extents. This is accomplished by maintaining proper relation between the cross- .sectional areas of the economizer and the exhaust flue 48, and by Providing a damper 48 with which to vary the cross-sectional area of the upper flue outlet l8.

The cross-sectional area of communicating openings 35, the combined cross-sectional areas of the flue outlets I! and I8, and the crosssectionalgarea of exhaust flue 4-8 are all substantially equal. Thus, when the apparatus is operating at. its maximum capacity-as when exhaust flue 48 is completely filled with the products of combustion passing therethroughthe products of combustion also necessarily completely fill the vertically elongated openings in passing through the economizer. In this manner, the compartments 32 forming the ,economizer llb are heated throughout their vertical extents.

Of course, when the apparatus is operating at its maximum capacity, as described above, the damper 49 associated with flue outlet l8 will be in its open-horizontal-position. If the apparatus be operated at less than its maximum capacity, damper 49 will be adjusted to vary the cross-sectional area of .fiue outlet I8 so as to provide for a substantially equal pressure or draft in the two outlets l? and Hi. In this manner, the products of combustion are withdrawn or expelled from the economizer in equal volumes through the two outlets, thus maintaining a relatively uniform distribution of the products of combustion throughout the vertical extent of the economizer.

The-size and location of all of the openings 34, 35, 36 and 31-are such that a major portion of the side walls of the compartments 3! and 32 are directly exposed to the air circulated through inner casing l2. As best shown in Figure 3, these openings are arranged to form a .serpentine passageway through the economizer portion-of the heat exchanger. 'The air circulated through inner casing l2 passes between the convolutions of this serpentine passageway.

Each of the compartments 3| and 32 is 'provided with fourears 38. The ears on adjacent compartments are formed with aligned openings for the reception of securing rods 40 which 'together .with the .clampingnutsM at the opposite extremities thereof serve to detachably connect all of thecompartments .3l and 32 together in operative relation. Coil spring elements 42 are shown as mounted upon one end of the rods 40 and interposed between the compartments 3 2 and the adjacent clamping nut 4|. Thus, the compartments are connected to each other in a manner to permit the natural expansion and contraction resulting from the changes in temperature produced within the heat exchanger ll.

As previously stated, the heat. exchanger II is mounted upon a supporting frame In. The supporting frame l9 consists of two spaced apart horizontally extending parallel pipes Hlb supported at their opposite ends by "vertical pipes 19a. Each pair of vertical pipes I to are connected to each other by a cross-support ltc. Thus, there-is provided "a rigid supporting frame for the heat exchanger II. The front endof the heat exchanger is anchored to the supporting frame by saddles 5, which have an interlocking engagement with the frame and the lower edge of one of the compartments 32 (see Fig. 4). Except for the two saddles 5, the heat exchanger is not connected to the supporting frame in any way, but is merely mounted upon the horizontally extending pipes lib and held in position by gravity and the surrounding inner jacket l2. Consequently, the compartments 3| and 32 comprising the heat exchanger I are free to expand and contract in a horizontal direction longitudinally of the pipes Nib. The ears 38 at the top and bottom of the compartments 3| and 32 prevent horizontal movement of the heat exchanger in a lateral direction relative to the pipes "lb.

The opening 33 in the end compartment 3| (right hand side of Figures 1 and 3) is partially closed by a plate 43 provided with a large rectangular opening. A second plate or closure 44 is detachably connected to plate 43.

Closure plate 44 is insulated, as shown, and is provided with an opening through which a conduit extends. Primary combustion chamber I6 is connected to the inner end of the conduit. Burner I is connected to the outer end of the conduit. The plate 44, combustion chamber l6, and burner l5 comprise a unitary assembly which can be removed and installed as a unit. Burner I5 is supported by a bracket 45 carried by plate 44.

As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, the inner casing l2 and the outer casing l3 are provided with openings in the front end thereof which are closed by the plates 43 and 44. Of course, in this particular zone the inner casing I2 is not spaced from the heat exchanger II, and the outer casing I3 is not spaced from the inner casing l2. Plates 43 and 44 and burner l5 are enclosed within an auxiliary housing 41.

The operation of the apparatus herein illustrated and described is as follows:

Combustion is initiated in the primary combustion chamber [6 by the oil burner l5. Combustion there initiated expands into the expansion section Ila of heat exchanger H and the products of combustion then pass into economizer section Nb, and finally into the exhaust flue 48 through the flue outlets I1 and I8.

The expansion section provides a horizontal passageway for the products of combustion which is of substantially uniform height and width. The economizer section of the heat exchanger provides a horizontal passageway for the products of combustion which is of substantially uniform height and varying width. Adequate heating of the expansion chamber, and particularly the economizer section, throughout its vertical extent is assured at maximum operation by the relation between the effective crosssectional areas of the passageway through the economizer and the exhaust flue 48. A similar result is attained when the apparatus is operated at less than its maximum capacity by suitable adjustment of the damper 49 associated with the upper exhaust flue I8.

Air is drawn into the outer casing |3 through the inlet opening l9 by the fans M. In traveling between the inlet opening l9 and the fans M a major portion of the air either passes over the outer surface of the inner casing l2 or over the outer surface of the flue outlets l1 and I8, ab-

sorbing some heat therefrom. The fans l4 force the air from outer casing 3 into inner casing l2 through the openings 20 and out of the inner casing l2 through the outlet opening 2!. In traveling through the inner casing I2 the air passes between all of the compartments 3| and 32, and is directly exposed to contact with a substantial portion of the side walls of compartments 3| and a major portion of the side walls of compartments 32. All together, six sides of the heat exchanger are directly exposed to the air passing through inner casing l2. In this manner, a very efficient transfer of heat from the heat exchanger to the air to be heated is effected. In traveling from the outer casing l3 to the inner casing l2, all of the air to be heated passes through the filters 9.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel form of heat exchanger from which the heat of combustion is most efliciently transferred to the medium to be heated.

While only a single embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to this single embodiment but, on the contrary, is co-extensive with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Combustion apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and a support therefor, the support including a pair of horizontally extending parallel members, the heat exchanger being slidably mounted upon said members to permit longitudinal and lateral movement of the heat exchanger with respect to said members, means for limiting the lateral movement of said heat exchanger with respect to said members comprising a projection carried by the heat exchanger and positioned between said members, and means for fixing the longitudinal position of one end of the heat exchanger with respect to said members comprising a saddle rigidly secured to one of said members and a projection on the heat exchanger mounted in said saddle.

2. Combustion apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and a supporting frame therefor, the supporting frame including a pair of horizontally extending spaced parallel bars, the heat exchanger including a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally aligned compartments slidably mounted upon said bars to permit longitudinal and lateral movement of the compartments with respect to said bars, each of said compartments including a plurality of projections, said projections being formed to provide aligned openings for the reception of a tie rod, a tie rod'slidably mounted in said aligned openings and having clamping means at its opposite ends to resiliently clamp the compartments together, at least one of the projections on each of said compartments being located between the horizontal bars whereby to limit the lateral movement of the heat exchanger with respect to the supporting frame, and means for fixing the longitudinal position of one end of the heat exchanger with respect to the supporting frame comprising a saddle rigidly secured to one of said bars and a projection on the heat exchanger mounted in said saddle,

MARTIN DE' LIN. 

